Tuesday, February 27, 2024

Sunday, February 18, 2024

The Culture War @ US Universities

Great article in Nature by Emma Marris: How Culture Wars are Affecting US Universities
This is just the usual right-wing BS that the MAGA crowd loves: elinminate DEI to protect academic freedom, frame diversity statements as a 'leftistt loyalty oath', etc. Not something we need to deal with in Massachusetts (yet...).

Friday, February 9, 2024

Lovejoy's Nuclear War (1975)

On George Washington's Birthday, 1974, Sam Lovejoy--a 27-year-old farmer--toppled a 500-foot weather tower in Montague, Massachusetts. The tower had been erected by the local utility as part of their attempt to build one of the largest nuclear power plants ever planned.

Leaving 349 feet of twisted wreckage behind, Lovejoy hitched a ride to the local police station, where he turned himself in along with a four-page statement decrying the dangers of nuclear power and accusing the government and utilities of "conspiracy and despotism."

Six months later, Lovejoy stood trial for "willful and malicious destruction of personal property," a five-year felony. He insisted on conducting his own case, and told the jury he had acted in self-defense. After a dramatic seven-day trial, Lovejoy went free.

More about this story here: https://www.zinnedproject.org/news/tdih/lovejoys-nuclear-plant-civil-disobedience/